Photo by Rives Photography

Camp Eagle Ridge was established in 2010 by Dan Fritts in Collinsville, MS, as a nonprofit summer day camp for abled and special-needs children. This organization strives to develop in children the character qualities of determination, persistence, discipline, confidence, courage, and responsibility. The staff of Camp Eagle Ridge use a variety of therapeutic activities such as horseback riding, wall climbing, arts and crafts, and public speaking/presentations to build those qualities in the belief that they can assist children in building self-confidence to motivate themselves to succeed in school and pursue a higher education.

DTOC Membership became aware of the plans for Camp Eagle Ridge before it actually existed when Dan Fritts visited the club as a speaker and told of his dream of building Camp Eagle Ridge. After his first visit, the DTOC made a small donation of seed money to support Dan’s efforts. Over the next year, Camp Eagle Ridge began to take physical shape and soon after Dan found some suitable land in the Collinsville, MS area, the first children began showing up for summer camp.

To reach his dream, a lot still has to happen. Money has to be raised, buildings and activity areas have to be constructed. However, one of the foundational needs the Camp has is the need for easy access to water. While drinking water for humans will continue to be provided in bottles, there are a lot of areas in the camp where water is desperately needed. Pools cannot be built until water is available. Gardens can’t be grown without water. Horses and animals need drinking water. Cooling stations that spray water cannot be built. Bathrooms and cooking facilities cannot be built. In fact, many of the construction activities that will be coming in the future will need water to be completed.

Dan Fritts made the DTOC aware of this need almost a year ago and at the February 7th, 2012 meeting, after a lot of research and hard work by DTOC Member Dan Derrington, The Downtown Optimist Club presented a check to Dan Fritts and Camp Eagle Ridge for $5,000 to underwrite the installation of a water well. In recognition of his efforts, Dan Derrington was asked to make the formal presentation of the check. Dan Fritts graciously accepted the donation on behalf of the camp and made very clear the foundational role this water well will play in the future development of Camp Eagle Ridge.

It is worth mentioning that without community support of the Downtown Optimist Club’s Pancake Jubilee over the past 65 years, we could never make donations of this size to any organization. Thank you Meridian and Lauderdale County for supporting the DTOC efforts to support our youth!

The DTOC was honored to be able to support Camp Eagle Ridge and Dan Fritts’ efforts to help children. It will be exciting to see Dan’s dream become reality!

Click to learn more about Camp Eagle Ridge.

Photo by Rives Photography

DTOC Member and Meridian Star Editor Fredie Carmichael received a his 5 year membership award at the Tuesday, February 7, 2012 meeting of the Downtown Optimist Club. Fredie has served in several capacities over the years including one year as President of the DTOC. He has flipped a lot of pancakes over the years to help the club raise funds to donate to youth activities and has promoted the organization in his role as our liaison with the Meridian Star newspaper.

Current DTOC President Eddy Chaney presented the former President with his membership award.

Mark McDonald & The USS Mississippi

On Tuesday, January 24th our speaker was Mark McDonald. Mark is the Commissioning Committee Chairman for the USS Mississippi, a Virginia-class submarine that will be put into service later this year.

From Wikipedia:

PCU Mississippi (SSN-782) is a Virginia-class submarine of the United States Navy, named for the state of Mississippi. The contract to build her was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut on 14 August 2003. PCU-Mississippi’s keel was laid down on 9 June 2010. PCU-Mississippi was christened on December 3rd, 2011 at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, is the ship’s sponsor. The submarine is expected to be commissioned at a ceremony next June in Gulfport, Mississippi.

The Meridian District VIM Ramp Project Ministry was started in May of 1999 in response to a local pastor’s request to build a ramp for a disabled man who lived near the church he was serving. Volunteers built a second ramp in 1999 and then built five more in 2000. In 2001, a total of thirty-one ramps were built in the five county area including Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton counties. In 2010, a total of 93 ramp projects were completed for the elderly and handicapped. Since the program started over 650 ramp, step and handrail produces have been completed.

The ramps installed are temporary in that they are easily disassembled when no longer needed for reuse at another location. Recycling of ramps help reduce the cost of ramps significantly.

While the Ramp Project Ministry is sponsored by the Meridian District UMC under United Methodist Volunteers In Mission (UMVIM), many of the volunteers (both lay and clergy) give of their time, talents and financial support to pre-build and install these ramps come from other denominations including Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Nazarene, Chruch of Christ, Church of God, non-denominational congregations and non-profit service agencies.

ALL LABOR IS VOLUNTEER! No one gets paid. 100% of your donation is used to purchase materials to finish projects. Volunteers and donations are always welcome. There is never a charge to an individual for a ramp, but donations are welcome from everyone.

If you are interested in volunteering or want to send a tax deductible donation mail to:

Dusty Culpepper works at Anderson Regional Medical Center and coaches youth in various sporting events.

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center

http://www.righteousoaksrecoverycenter.com

From Righteous Oaks’ Website:

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center is a interdenominational, interracial, six-month “in resident” biblically-based worship and work program of biblical teaching. We offer a soundly structured daily schedule whose rules, policy and procedures teach the men responsible behavior and good work habits. During the work times, the Ministry Staff encourages the men to remain in fellowship with each other as they work together daily, building social skills that demonstrate the love and behavior of Christ one to the other. We consider Righteous Oaks to be not only a individual healing Ministry, but a family healing Ministry as well. Family members are encouraged to participate as much as possible in church services and other Ministry activities. The resident’s family members are very important to us.

Righteous Oaks works closely with Mississippi Department of Corrections, Law Enforcement Agencies and the Judicial System to give men an alternative to incarceration when they run afoul of the law in their addictive behaviors. God has blessed us with a remarkable record of healing success in our program.

Righteous Oaks Recovery Center is a privately owned and privately operated non-profit Ministry. We are funded through tuition paid by our residents, private individuals, local businesses, churches and civic clubs.

Just in case you didn’t already know, Randy is our club photographer and handles all of the player and team photos for our T-Ball Program as well.

PS: For the record, the photo shown was not taken by Randy and therefore should not be considered representative of his professional work!

PSS: You can see some of Randy’s work at: http://www.rivesphoto.com

Don McNair Receives Award From Eddy Chaney

In recognition of his many years of service to the Downtown Optimist Club of Meridian and in particular for his dedicated work as our club secretary and treasurer, the DTOC recently awarded Don McNair a plaque as a small token of our appreciation. President Eddy Chaney presented the award to Don at our regular Tuesday Meeting on December 13th, 2011. Don plans to retire from an active role in the DTOC, but has graciously offered to assist with any of our events and even plans to join us from time to time for lunch.

Don McNair is a Meridian native and was a local businessman with F.W. Williams and USF&G for 30 years. He joined the Optimist Club in May, 1962 and served in various roles as a baseball coach and Youth League President at Randall Field. He was awarded Optimist International Life Membership status in 1975 in recognition of his dependable support as a “Friend Of Youth”.

Later, Don became a charter member of the North Hills Optimist Club, formed to expand youth baseball at Hardin Field in North Meridian. He was a co-founder of Rookie League Baseball in Meridian and served as a coach and club President during the 1980′s.In 1999, Don returned to full time Optimist action in the Downtown Optimist Club and became Secretary/Treasurer in 2004. He served in this role until his retirement in December, 2011.

Donald Eric McNair

Don’s father, Donald Eric McNair (1909-1949) was a noted professional baseball player (shortstop) who was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall Of Fame in 1963. Eric McNair played with the Memphis Chicks and Knoxville Smokies from 1928 until 1929 when he joined the Philadelphia Athletics.

He played with the Athletics until 1935, played in the 1930 and 1931 World Series’ and in 1932 McNair led the American League with 47 Doubles in 1932. McNair played for the Boston Red Sox (1936-1938), the Chicago Cubs (1939-1940) and the Detroit Tigers (1941-1942).

In 1932, Eric McNair played in an All-Star exhibition game in Japan where two of his teammates were Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

VP Gene Vance with Gary Turbville

Gary Turbville was awarded the Second Annual Friend Of Youth Award in recognition of his work to help children. Gary has created a wonderful organization (Cans For Kids) funded in large part by Gary recycling empty beverage cans. He started by picking up cans along the road and has expanded his effort to include setting up can collection areas at local businesses and churches. One hundred percent of the funds Gary raises goes toward providing assistance to families during the year as well as providing presents and food at Christmas time for between 140 and 250 children.

The Downtown Optimist Club is proud to recognize the efforts of Gary Turbville and Cans For Kids by awarding Gary the DTOC Friend Of Youth Award for 2011.

In 2010 and again in 2011, the DTOC doubled their annual Christmas donations to these organizations and gave each organization $1,000 to help offset some of the higher costs these groups are experiencing due to increased requests for help. With the stagnate economy, greater need and lower donations, the membership of the DTOC decided to increase their level of support and in doing so, challenge other community groups to increase their support as well.

The presentation of the donations took place on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011, the same day DTOC membership volunteered to ring bells for The Salvation Army. Vice President Gene Vance gave out the donations and asked all the representatives of the groups to provide an overview of the work they are doing for children.